Cessna 177 and Cessna 152 mid-air collision near Green Cove Spgs, Florida, October 11, 1991
On October 11, 1991 at about 5:15 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Cessna 177 (N3288T) and Cessna 152 (N89296), were involved in a mid-air collision near Green Cove Spgs, Florida. 1 person was killed; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN A VISUAL LOOKOUT AND FAILURE TO GIVE RIGHT OF WAY TO THE CONVERGING TRAFFIC.
THE PILOT IN COMMAND'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN A VISUAL LOOKOUT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 11, 1991 · about 5:15 pm local time
- Place
- Green Cove Spgs, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Cessna 177 · all 177s on the register
- Registration
- N3288T · no longer on the register · serial 17700588
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N89296 · no longer on the register · serial 15282705
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 177 final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT OF THE CESSNA 177 WAS FLYING NORTHBOUND ON AN AERIAL OBSERVATION FLIGHT AND LOOKED DOWN INSIDE THE COCKPIT TO LOOK UP A FREQUENCY. WHEN HE LOOKED OUT AGAIN A CESSNA 152 WAS ABOUT 100 YARDS OFF HIS FRONT RIGHT AND CONVERGING AT THE SAME ALTITUDE. HE ATTEMPTED EVASIVE ACTION AND HIS LEFT WHEEL HIT THE CESSNA 152 LEFT WING AND BROKE THE OUTER WING PANEL. THE 152 LOST CONTROL AND SPIRALED TO THE LEFT AND CRASHED. THE CESSNA 177 LANDED SAFELY.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 152 final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT OF THE CESSNA 177 WAS FLYING NORTHBOUND ON AN AERIAL OBSERVATION FLIGHT AND LOOKED DOWN INSIDE THE COCKPIT TO LOOK UP A FREQUENCY. WHEN HE LOOKED OUT AGAIN A CESSNA 152 WAS ABOUT 100 YARDS OFF HIS FRONT RIGHT AND CONVERGING AT THE SAME ALTITUDE. HE ATTEMPTED EVASIVE ACTION AND HIS LEFT WHEEL HIT THE CESSNA 152 LEFT WING AND BROKE THE OUTER WING PANEL. THE 152 LOST CONTROL AND SPIRALED TO THE LEFT AND CRASHED. THE CESSNA 177 LANDED SAFELY.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record for the Cessna 177 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,407 hours in all; 750 in this make and model; 325 in the last 90 days; 147 in the last 30 days; 1,228 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,223 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 1, 1991; 803 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,350 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 28J Palatka FL at 1:00 pm
- Destination: 88J Allendale SC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:52 pm from JAX, 7 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Cessna 152 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 250 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Reynolds Arprk. FL at 5:05 pm
- Destination: Haller Field FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.